By Alexis Tarrazi / Senior Reporter

CARLSTADT (Nov. 12, 2009) — Following the trend of other local school districts, the Carlstadt Board of Education unanimously voted to move up the kindergarten enrollment deadline at its Nov. 2 meeting.

The previous cutoff date to enroll in Carlstadt Public School’s kindergarten was Oct. 31, one of the latest in the South Bergen area. The most common date for most school districts is Oct. 1.

The new deadline of Sept. 30 will take effect next fall for the 2010-2011 school year.

Board member Elaine Stevens said she is happy with the update.

“I am a firm believer that children will be more ready if they wait at least another month,” Stevens said.

The decision to change the deadline came after Superintendent of Schools Stephen Kollinok created a committee at the beginning of this school year consisting of administrative officials, teachers, board members and parents.

The committee discussed the deadline date over a number of meetings where research comparing other school districts was assessed.

“When the children are that young, believe it or not, one month can make a huge difference,” Kollinok said in a previous interview. “Sometimes the kids enrolling are not turning five until Oct. 30. So this change will help them developmentally.”

Children already attending kindergarten or pre-K in Carlstadt will be grandfathered in, according to Kollinok.